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A UNIQUE EXPERIENCE Take a stroll down
CHARLTON BEER ALLEY with a wide variety of over a 100 imported and domestic beers...
the best selection in Saratoga County!
OVER 40 FLAVORS of Gourmet Teas Fresh baked turnovers, cream puffs, mini-cheesecakes, carrot cakes and chocolate chip cookies from locally owned and operated bakeries Oversized sandwiches & homemade soups Ethanol-Free Gas! We’ve got MPG - More Power per Gallon! Yes, we have free Wi-Fi
UPCOMING COMMUNITY EVENTS BEER TASTING November 18th - Long Trail December 9th - Harpoon plus… Antique Car Shows, Tractor Shows, Poker Runs and Educational Seminars
WORTH THE TRIP FROM ANYWHERE… WE LOOK FORWARD TO YOUR VISIT! ROUTE 67 COUNTRY STORE & CAFÉ 518-882-7347 1958 Amsterdam Rd. (Rt. 67) Charlton, NY 12020 4 miles west of Ballston Spa
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On the Cover
There’s a unique store in Troy that wants you to get a little sun. And when you get it, you’ve got the power. Solar power that is, and it can heat your shower water or provide electricity to run your computer. Or, it could simply recharge your cell phone or operate your emergency flashlight. You’ll never need batteries. All this and more is waiting for you at the Empire Solar Store on Brunswick Road (Route 2) in Troy. From the smallest gadget to off-grid power systems, owners Rodney Wiltshire and his wife Jolene (that’s her, heating up the cover of this issue) have got a way for you to catch some rays, keep the heat, and save you some green while going green. For the past two years they’ve helped people find freedom with alternative energy, innovative home insulation and a multitude of other products that are reducing their carbon footprint, and having a whole lot of fun doing it too. The Empire Solar Store has been a regular advertiser with us from the very beginning, and we are thrilled to have shared a similar mission along the way… celebrating the local economy while protecting the local ecology. Rodney and Jolene define the term eco-local and we are proud to feature them as the cover eco-localizer for this Holiday 2010 edition!
DEPARTMENTS
7
News and Views
8
The Wellness Doc
9
Money Matters
10 Ask the Energy Expert
FEATURES
14
Conscious Giving and Our Holiday Celebrations
18
Green Organizers
20
Empire Solar Store is Hot!
22
Vincek Farm Harvest Time
26
Buy Fair and Buy Local
32
The Beauty SocietyAn Organic Approach
12 The Joy of Functional Living 13 The GREEN Designer 25 Cooking Tips 36 Recipe 38 EcoLocal People
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Letter from the Publisher The killing frost has ended the growing season for us, although my brussel sprouts and nappa cabbage seem to be defiant of the cold that has wiped out the rest of the garden. It was a bountiful harvest, and we are grateful that this year’s growing conditions were ideal here in the Upper Hudson Valley. We’ve reserved our pastured turkey for the Thanksgiving celebration, which has been raised with care by the Vincek Farm since the Spring. John and Laura Vincek run a diversified farm – meaning they raise a little bit of everything, at their farm on Smith’s Bridge Road in Wilton, Saratoga County. There you’ll find market vegetables, pumpkins and ornamental gourds, fresh eggs, and turkeys. The Vincek’s raise over 200 turkeys, all for local consumption on Thanksgiving Day. That means that 200 families will be enjoying a bird that is far superior to the ones found in the typical grocer’s freezer case; no water added, no hormones, no industrial processing. Just a real bird from a real farm that is real close to home. And real good! Regular contributor Amy Stock shares her story about the Vinceks in the pages ahead. Once the Thanksgiving Holiday arrives, then Christmas and all its fanfare is not far off. It’s easy to get swept up in all the hype to buy more stuff, but with a recession going on that doesn’t want to quit, many folks are looking for more meaningful options to share their love. How about Conscious Gifting? New contributor Johanna Sophia offers an alternative to the material gift, one that instead comes from the heart. She shares with us that the most valuable gift is not a thing, but love and caring. That is a gift that we can all give, and long to receive! But if you feel compelled to buy something special for a special someone in your life, then why not consider a gift that impacts others in a positive way because of your purchase. Another new contributor, Brian Crouth, suggests that Fair Trade and locally made gifts have great impact, because they help insure that real people, not giant corporations, get the profits from your purchase. And those real people are able to help the others in their communities as well. What comes around goes around. An example of that is village of Ballston Spa, which is one of a few Fair Trade towns in the USA. Put Ballston Spa on you destination list this Christmas, and experience what it’s like to buy fair and buy local at the same time! Sometimes the gift people are looking for is freedom… from stuff. Is clutter taking over your house? Perhaps you need a Green Organizer - someone who can help you free up your space and find a new home for your things that are no longer wanted. Tracy Frisch has found a couple of enterprising entrepreneurs who do just that. One’s person trash is another one’s treasure,and these folks are able to put the two together. Read all about it in this issue. With winter approaching and the days growing shorter, the warmth of the sun will surely diminish. But even with the sun low in the sky, it can provide warmth even on the coldest of days. You just need a way to collect the suns rays in order to capture its warmth. For this very reason there is a growing interest in solar energy systems. One local entrepreneur has put together a store for all things solar and alternative energy related. The Empire Solar Store has all kinds of options for you to catch some rays, and make your Winter days a little brighter. I stopped by and spoke with owner Rodney Wiltshire, he’s a man on a mission, walking the walk and talking the talk. There’s a whole lot of good stuff for you to discover in these pages of the eco-LOCAL Holiday edition. Hopefully you’ll enjoy the stories and features as much as I did putting them together for you. Your readership is greatly appreciated, and I thank you for the gift of your time and attention. Look for some major changes to the eco-local Living website in early 2011 as we expand our online offerings to bring more value to the community. May you find peace and happiness this Holiday Season, however and with whomever you choose. - David DeLozier, Publisher Every effort has been made to avoid errors and misspellings; however, if you see an error, please accept our apologies. We welcome your ideas, articles, and feedback so that we can give you the best service possible. eco-LOCAL Living does not guarantee nor warrantee any products, services of any advertisers, nor will we be party to any legal or civil claims or promises. We expect advertisers to honor any claims or promises. We reserve the right to revise, edit and/or reject any and all advertising with or without cause. Liability is limited to the cost of the ad space in which it first appeared for printing errors of the publisher's responsibility or if the publisher fails to print an ad or article for any reason. We reserve the right to edit articles if needed for content, clarity and relevance. Unless otherwise noted, we use the Creative Commons License (in place of standard copyright), which allows anyone to freely copy, distribute, and transmit all content, although it must be attributed in the manner specified by the author or licensor, and no one may use it for commercial purposes, or alter, transform, or build upon it. 6 ecolocalliving.com
PUBLISHER / EDITOR / SALES David Delozier 518-858-6866 ecolocalliving.com
DESIGN / PRODUCTION Centerline Design 518-883-3872
PHOTOGRAPHY David DeLozier, Tracy Frisch, Johanna Sophia and capturedlightphotography.com
CONTRIBUTORS Amy L. Stock,Tracy Frisch, Johanna Sophia, Brian Crouth, Dr. Dermot Jinks, Harry Moran, Mary Beth McCue, Michael Cellini, Shannon Hayes Karen Totino and Kathleen Quartararo
SUBSCRIBE Eco-LOCAL Living is the free bi-monthly magazine for people choosing to lead sustainable, intentional lifestyles in New York's Upper Hudson Valley. Eco-LOCAL can be found throughout the region at independent retailers, shops, restaurants and other high traffic locales (visit www.ecolocalliving.com to find a location near you). If you would like to receive a subscription for convenience, send $24 along with your name and address to: eco-LOCAL Media 38 Tamarack Trail Saratoga Springs, NY 12866. If you would like updates and information by email, please sign up at our website.
SUPPORT We seek to transform this special region of upstate New York into a local living economy of vibrant towns, productive farmlands and healthy open space. By reading eco-LOCAL, you become part of our cause. But more is needed - we need you to take an active role, by engaging in the commerce that will create the living economy of our future. This magazine is brought to you solely by the advertisers found within. Please tell them you appreciate their support of eco-LOCAL Living. We are all in this together, and we must support each other. Thank you!
News and Views From Transport to Trees: Some green ideas for the holidays and beyond At Sustainable Saratoga, we're an allvolunteer organization dedicated to improving the quality of life in Saratoga while conserving the vitality and diversity of regional resources. Because a key personal resource – especially approaching the holidays – is time, we don't have a monthly meeting scheduled for December. We normally meet on the fourth Tuesday of the month at City Hall in Saratoga Springs. We thought folks might be otherwise occupied near the end of December, so we hope to see everyone on Tuesday, January 25th at 7pm to kick off a new year of monthly programs on local sustainability issues.
Check SustainableSaratoga.com in January for details.) In the meantime, we thought we'd offer a couple of ways to go green (without going into the red) while practicing sustainability during the holiday season. For parents of school-aged children, the holidays often mean a marathon of driving vacationing kids to and from the mall, the homes of friends and all the latest social venues. If your budding socialites are nearing driving age,
it's the perfect time to learn what city kids elsewhere take as an honored rite of passage akin to getting that learner's permit: how to use public transport. Grab some CDTA bus schedules from the Saratoga Springs Visitor Center on Broadway, or at the Amtrak Station, just off West Avenue. See which routes are nearest to you, then plan to take a ride together so you're all comfortable with how and where they will be going. (Let the older ones plot out
TO CHOOSE, or not to Choose We do, every day, choose or, more than likely, not choose… Which means, we get what we do not choose by default. As we wait until something happens, we often must choose in haste, or even give up our choice to another. Every day holds the opportunity for greatness - or sameness - or worseness. Do we even think that way, or do we get up and robotically handle the daily grind? “How do I choose to spend my day?” When is the last time you said that? Think back to this morning... how many actual, pro-active choices did you make? How much time and thought went into the decision? How many times is the object of our attention and consequent follow up action, chosen by what we open in e-mail , how many phone calls we take, or direct requests from others? What do we WANT to do, and what do we do out of a perceived obligation? What makes us feels good, and what do we do because we HAVE to? We have more choices than we remember, and the consequences of our choices are not as bad as we have led ourselves to believe. I say this now, as I anticipate a reaction of “I have a job to do, and no choice on whether or not I do it” “I have children to take care of, and they come first” “I have a responsibility - a financial obligation to my customers/employees/family - I must do these things” We know, given a publicly accepted form of interruption, our day can be completely changed in an instant, and we get a free pass to stop serving others. Unfortunately we have come to believe
those “interruptions” are limited to sickness or death of self or a loved one, unexpected damage to home or car, and winning the lottery… And even then we aren't choosing to change our day, we are reacting to an unexpected event. We are doing what is expected of us! Or more accurately, we are doing what we think is expected of us! LIVING BY OUR PERCEPTION OF THE EXPECTATION OF OTHERS - people we will never be able to consistently please because we will never be able to consistently or accurately anticipate or meet all their needs. And THAT is how we rate ourselves on our daily activity? How many things did I respond to? How many calls did I take or return? How many e-mails did I answer? Now I am not saying not to do those things… I am saying STOP for 15 minutes. Take a breath. Look at your own big picture. Make choices that feel right. Devise a plan. CHOOSE When we choose on our terms and our time, life can become more peaceful. There is a slower, easier pace. When we take time to evaluate, there are many more options. The faster we go, the fewer choices we have. Our technology, our advanced technology, has given us the opportunity to field requests, demands, and distractions literally every minute of every day through an ever increasing variety of gadgets. SO, what do we do? Should we really be checking, opening, and reading, every time we hear a ring, a ding, a vibrate or ughhhhhhhhhhhhh a song! We have gotten so conditioned to responding and reacting, it seems we have forgotten the power of STARTING... PICKING...
From Sustainable Saratoga
their trip online for themselves at www.cdta.org, and go in a group together with their friends.) No, it's not door-to-door service – you do have to walk to and from the nearest bus stop, which isn't a bad thing. And yes, if you miss the bus you may have to wait another hour for your ride, as many local routes only run once an hour. But being responsible for your time isn't a bad lesson either! Fresh air, a little aerobic activity and new personal responsibility for the kids – and some extra time for parents free of -Continued on Page 28
By Kathleen Quartararo CHOOSING what we want to do, when we want to do it, and for whom… oh, and for how long. We live in an amazing time! Opportunity for interaction with thousands of people! Access to information that is unprecedented! And yet the only time we spend choosing, is when we are picking out our next object of constant interruption. Let's try choosing, more often than not, what we give our attention to, rather than mindlessly looking at everything that comes into view. Just for a day, to see what it is like. Kathleen is the Owner of Virgil’s House, 86 Henry Street in Saratoga Springs.
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The Wellness Doc By Dr. Dermot Connole Jinks, DC
To Flu Shot or not to Flu Shot - Is that the Question? Vaccines/flu shots contain a dead or weakened form of a specific flu virus. Our bodies, if healthy at the time of inoculation, respond by using the weakened/dead virus as a template to create cells that will be able to destroy the normal strength live virus in the future. An important note here is that the body still has to create the 'attack' cells to battle and destroy the flu virus. The ability to do so, in part, depends on the health of the body at the time of inoculation. If our body is weak when given the flu shot it will have a hard time responding to the virus. That makes sense, right? Unfortunately, there are no considerations at the time someone is given a flu shot for whether the immune system is strong or weak. If someone is fatigued, has not been getting a good source of nutrition because life is very busy, or is experiencing the affects of stress, this will Although it seems obvious, as a health care compromise a body's ability to do anything professional for 17+ years I sometimes wonder if including the creation of 'attack' cells. we - as a society - have forgotten that our bodies Another consideration in getting the flu shot is the were designed to adapt, heal and fight off illness. possibility of being immuno-compromised from The flu starts when we come in contact with a other medications. Medications interrupt/inhibit specific viral organism. The good news is that our natural processes in the body. Prilosec prevents the body has the ability to determine that a virus has body from creating the acid needed to break down 'invaded' and, if it has done battle previously with proteins in the stomach and aspirin inhibits the that virus respond quickly to the 'invasion' based production of progesterone - a hormone the body on a memory of the enemy. This is done through a needs for healthy function. When these are in play 'pattern' stored in the immune system that allows we may feel better but risk upsetting the delicate for the fast creation of 'attack' cells that balance of physiology - including the bodies ability destroy/kill the virus. If it is a new invading virus to respond to viral organisms. (Google “side that we have not been exposed to before, our body effects�) will make cells to match the new virus. Flu and cold viruses also mutate easily, making it While our body is making 'attack' cells to possible - and probable, to catch different forms of disable/kill the flu we feel sick. Our body the flu. If you contract a mutated strain, after remembers viral (and bacterial) 'patterns' - so already having had the flu, your body may be able when the same flu virus comes along again, or to fight it off easier through 'cross referencing' it's even a similar one, our immune system wastes no components. But, even if your body can recognize it time in getting rid of it because it knows already as very similar, and make the same cells as before, what will work. This is what constitutes a strong if the pattern of cells that your body remembers immune system - the ability to detect and respond and sends to the defense does not fit the new to ANY stimulus that threatens our health. That is strain of the flu well enough to disable/destroy it, why once we have had a flu virus we don't get sick you may feel sick - until the body figures out the from it again. Our body is familiar with the 'enemy' perfect new pattern. This is why you may have heard someone say the flu shot they offer may not and knows how to take him out quickly.
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even work against the strain you are exposed to. The good news is your body - your immune system - remembers each new pattern to protect you again and again from ALL strains. An example of this has been demonstrated in current population aged 65 and older who have residual resistance to certain strains of Swine Flu from having been exposed to a similar strain in the past. Incredibly, they are unaffected by this influenza, even though mainstream media might have you think this same population would suffer the most deaths from seasonal influenza strains. On the other end of the spectrum, infants and very young children have not had any prior exposure to common viruses. This is one reason why it is highly recommended that newborns be breast-fed. If they are given mother's milk, at least for a short period after birth, it provides a safe way for their developing immune systems to learn the patterns for the kinds of infections that are around their environment. Another important consideration with flu shots is the presence of preservatives. This consideration, in my opinion, is most important with children who have not fully developed immune systems. Today, all routinely recommended licensed pediatric vaccines currently being manufactured for the U.S. market, with the exception of influenza vaccine, contain no thimerosal - a mercury-based preservative - or only trace amounts. Thimerosal preservative-free influenza vaccines are available, but in limited quantities. As we prepare for winter, a time we think of colds and flu, remember that our body was designed by God to fight off illness and disease. Although radio, newspaper, magazine and other advertisements might lead you to believe health is proportional to the availability of a flu shot it is not. The function and strength of our immune systems determine our health. A better remedy for a 'flu shot' - good nutrition, proper rest, fresh air, sunlight, healthy relationships and a properly functioning nervous system to integrate and appreciate these components. Did I mention that chiropractic care enhances the function of your nervous system?
Money Matters By Harry Moran, CFP® AIF®
Progress, Not Perfection. Over the years, I’ve found that there a number of obstacles that have prevented many socially concerned investors from investing their money in a sustainable and responsible manner. For some, it is an ingrained belief often perpetuated by the media that aligning your values with your money will lead to inferior results and will compromise your ability to achieve your financial goals. As I’ve written in several previous articles, I believe this to be a dated, misguided position which has been discredited by several major academic studies but will leave a revisiting of that discussion for a future piece. Perhaps the most limiting belief though among people who are concerned about the impact of their money is the notion that anything they do won’t really make much of a difference and that being “responsible” is an all or nothing proposition.
portfolio which integrates both SRI and non-SRI options and can help allay any fear about the potential for an SRI approach to be too narrow and limit the universe of potential choices. Another way for people to get started is to choose one part of their portfolio (e.g. large company U.S. stocks) and seek an SRI option that has a good track record in that space. If one is comfortable with how that is performing relative to its peers, then they can look for an SRI fund in another category such as corporate bonds. This incremental approach can be effective for people who want to move in this direction but don’t have the confidence to jump in with both feet.
practices. As Voltaire famously wrote: “The perfect is the enemy of the good”. He went on to say that: “Perfection is attained by slow degrees; it requires the hand of time”. I hope you find these One potential pitfall to be aware of is deciding to thoughts useful as we all continue to look for “try out SRI” by investing in an alternative, practical and effective ways to foster a more I’ve spoken with many people with environmental, renewable energy fund. As I discussed in last sustainable and just world. social or governance (ESG) concerns who care month’s column, these funds can play an important Harry Moran helps socially conscious investors define deeply about various issues but haven’t integrated part as a relatively small part of a broadly and achieve their highest goals by aligning their money those beliefs into the way they spend and invest diversified portfolio, but they can be extremely with their values. A 24-year veteran of the financial their money. One practical factor is that some volatile. If one judges the merits of SRI based on the services profession, Mr. Moran has held the Certified people have limited access to socially responsible performance of one of these vehicles, their results Financial Planner® designation since 1991. He is a network investments (SRI) in their retirement plans, which is will depend heavily on the timing of when they member of First Affirmative Financial Network, a national often their biggest pool of investable funds. Another bought the fund and they may or may not have a professional organization dedicated to meeting the needs issue is that people sometimes feel that if they successful and pleasant experience. The beauty and of the socially conscious investing community. Mr. Moran decide to become a socially responsible investor, power of the idea of “progress, not perfection” is can be reached directly at Cornerstone Financial Advisors they’ll need to invest all of their money in a manner simply that it makes it much easier to get started at 518-877-8800. Mention of specific securities, funds, or companies should not be considered an offer or a that’s 100% aligned with their social and with anything that may seem a bit daunting at first. recommendation to buy or sell the security, fund, or environmental priorities. While this is a worthy long- This has been an important part of the message and company. To determine the suitability of any particular term goal, meaningful positive impact can be approach of 12 step groups such as Alcoholics investment, please consult with your investment adviser. achieved in the shorter term by transitioning even a Anonymous since people can get started by Remember, past performance is no guarantee of future attending a meeting and don’t need to feel that results and no investment strategy can assure success. The portion of their assets into SRI vehicles. they need to address everything all at once. In a opinions expressed are those of the author and may One practical, middle ground approach is for similar vein, we can’t instantly solve the world’s change without notice. Harry Moran is a registered investors to use SRI vehicles in those categories problems by changing our investing and consuming representative offering securities through Cadaret, Grant where there are a variety of solid options and use habits but we can have a huge impact over time by & Co., Inc., member FINRA SIPC. Cadaret, Grant is not traditional non-screened choices for areas without integrating more sustainable and responsible affiliated with Cornerstone or First Affirmative. many SRI choices. This allows for a fully diversified
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Ask the Energy Expert By Michael Cellini, Co-founder and Director of Marketing for Adirondack Solar
Is Wind Energy a Viable Option in Upstate NY? Wind can be a viable option for producing power in upstate New York. But unlike the sun, which comes up every morning 365 days a year, wind comes and goes sporadically. Many locations in our area seem to be windy but in order to generate power from that wind the wind must have a wind means speed of at least 10mph. When assessing for wind, the first course of action is to review historical wind data. The map below shows our region's mean wind speed with each color representing a different speed. As you will notice most of our area has an average wind speed of between 7 and 9 mph, while the Glens Falls and Lake George region have even lower wind speeds. But there are areas that show yellow, especially south of the Mohawk River and a few peaks in the southern Adirondacks. These locations show promise in generating power from wind.
The next course of action is to review the site where the proposed wind turbine(s) will be located and assess it against the historical data of prevailing wind direction. This information is charted using what is called a wind rose. The wind rose is made up of concentric circles covered in pie slice graphics (see below). The largest pie slice is where the majority of the wind comes from and then each smaller slice shows secondary wind direction averages. In our area the prevailing wind is primarily from due west with the largest secondary prevailing wind direction from the NW. We also have tertiary prevailing winds from the SW and SE. The reason why we are interested in the prevailing wind direction is so we can “site out� a wind turbine without any obstacles. Obstacles can be mountains, trees or even barns.
That is the basics of wind siting. Unfortunately all this information is not always accurate. Wind analysis is very tricky. The maps may show low wind speeds but under certain conditions, such as two mountains acting as a funnel, wind may compress. Usually when wind compresses it increases its velocity. The higher the velocity the more potential to generate power.
CFD studies are computer-generated models of the typography and structures located around the proposed wind turbine(s). Simulated wind is then conceptually blown through the model and projected outcomes are analyzed.
Anemometers are instruments that measure wind speeds at the location and proposed height of where a wind turbine(s) is to be installed. The simplest type of anemometer has 3 or 4 cup-like segments turned sideways attached to a tower. The cups capture the wind and measure the speed. These wind speeds are then averaged over the course of a specified time, usually a few years, and hopefully give a clear picture as to how much wind is available for power generation.
prevalent at dawn, dusk and at night when a solar system is not producing power. Additionally, wind is more prevalent during the winter season when power production from solar is at its least. Combining these systems gives an owner the best of both worlds.
Most small wind systems do not utilize sophisticated wind analysis tools. For most small wind systems, the landowner is the best resource Assessing a location for power generation from the sun is relatively for wind assessment. Even though the maps and charts may say simple and usually very accurate. With solar, the loss of potential power otherwise, landowner empirical analysis usually proves best. from being a few degrees off true south or not having a roof pitch that Wind/solar hybrid systems are sometimes the best option when is optimal for the latitude is not significant. With wind though, a minor thinking about installing a renewable energy system. The benefit of a 10% increase in wind speed will create 33% more available power. A wind/solar hybrid system is that power can be generated 24 hours per solar assessment can take only a few minutes but for some large wind day, 365 days per year. The majority of power generated out of a solar projects, assessments may take years. Large wind project assessments system is from the Spring, Summer and Fall seasons. A solar system will may include setting up temporary wind anemometers and/or running still generate power in the Winter but since the Sun rises later and sets Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) studies earlier, the production is reduced. Wind on the other hand, is more
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Michael Cellini is Co-founder and Director of Marketing for Adirondack Solar. He can be reached at Michael@ADKsolar.com.
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The Joy(s) of Functional Living By Mary Beth McCue, RD, LDN, CDN
Avoid the Holiday Bulge David D. Ecolocal Editor: What is your recommendation to help people avoid over indulging at the Holiday table, and during this time of year in general which can seem for some to start at Thanksgiving and continue till New Years. The best way to avoid unhealthy life-style habits at anytime is to start building on life-style changes in the current moment. In this case, now before you find yourself in the whirlwind of the Holidays. As most of us know, three vital areas that are very interconnected and can have a significant positive effect on your eating habits are stress, exercise and diet. There is always room to build on these life-style components. When I was overweight, I used to respond to the Holidays with many poor eating habits. The house I grew up in was filled with lot's of homemade pies, Italian cookies & pastries, home made candies, rich dishes such as candied baked squash, stuffing, rolls, gravies, sauces etc. etc. I also had added stress from little communication, so I believe I “interacted” with food as a substitute for the lack of communication. Later in my career, I discovered common physical digestive imbalances that contributed to my unhealthy habits, but that is another subject. And exercise is now a part of my life on a very regular basis. How can we manage our stress to avoid it leading to over-indulgence of food, alcohol, and spending to name a few, around the Holidays? We need to continue to be aware of what we as individuals connect with that helps diminish stress in order to continue to manage it. The key words here are continue and individual. In other words, what helps YOU distress NOW, may be different than what helps NEXT YEAR. Find out what supports you now before getting wrapped up in the holiday season of increased activities and spending, which can heighten stress. Leading people to feeling more tired, heavier, depressed,
defeated - at a time when it could be relaxing. It is really a choice here on how you approach things. Listening to the body to see when it is stressed, “wired”, “uncomfortable” and when it feels calm and in control is key. I see many of my clients create positive changes like a job change, improving communications at home, delegating house work or cooking, walking with a neighbor on a regular basis, joining a yoga class or a support group at church or some other community setting, budgeting, shopping on line and using a list while avoiding the crazy holiday shopping scene and over spending. Spend time with people you care about and love during the holidays. Nourish and satisfy your bodys' needs eating mostly whole calming foods with little to no sugar, caffeine, or alcohol. Drink lot's of calming teas, water and foods like soups and stews. Find a practice that calms you like meditation, prayer, singing, reading, something that relaxes you and allows you to connect with your real true self of feeling good, positive and more balanced. And, have a trusted friend or professional to talk to. Food can be a very positive element during the holidays. Right now, concentrate on more whole real foods, less processed packaged foods and being a mindful eater… period. By being mindful, think about your hunger levels, your choices, and eat slowly and chew thoroughly. Shop in environments that support this practice and will help you build on it - like the year round Farmers Markets and Natural Foods stores. Avoid places like the bakery areas of the grocery stores. There are so many tempting smells and visuals, especially this time of year. Start to look on line for one healthy holiday recipe and cook it in the next 10 days. The site wholefoodsmarket.com has a huge variety of seasonal recipes. Do not diet around the holidays, but do avoid calorie dense items like alcohol, candies, and pastries. If your very curious about tempting, less healthy foods, be mindful and choose a sample- after you have
nourished your body with some whole foods selections like coleslaws or other raw veggie dishes, squash dishes, fresh or cooked fruits, small amounts of fresh meats like turkey, fish or ham, grains such as wild rice, or healthy fats like nuts and seeds. You can start building on your own healthy stock at home, and make sure you do not go out into another holiday meal hungry. Exercise advice has 2 important elements, something that 1) works for you in the way of enjoyment and convenience and something that will be done 2) often . This could be more than one activity. For example, right now in my life walking my dog daily and attending an exercise or yoga class at the YMCA three times or more per week is what works for me. Now, it isn't always convenient in terms of motivation level - as is common for most of us. So know you have to find a group or a walking partner or dog or something that gives you additional support to get out there and do it. And do not stop, only if you are left feeling worse as a result of exercising. If that is the case, you need to see your doctor. And overall, keep in mind that “You get more of whom you are in life, not necessarily what you want”. This meaning, if your true intention is to implement a positive change in your life, such as any of the above examples, then truly coming from that intention, valuing that change in your heart and starting the action of seeking it out and practice it - will attract more of it into your life. Or in other words, the law of attraction is at work in your favor. It is important that positive thoughts and actions need to be the driving force. For example, “I am eating healthy now and everyday I feel better as a result.” In return, you will have more conversations, examples, people, etc. come into your life that will support being healthier and feeling better. On the other hand, if the statement is “I am not eating healthy and need to change my habits.” What you will get more of is something that will reinforce not eating healthy and needing to change your habits. Happy Holidays ! Mary Beth is a Registered Dietitian and a Certified and Licensed Nutritionist . The Foundation of her work and her own health transformation is based on eating a whole-sustainable foods diet, with unique tools derived from her long-term and ongoing clinical training in functional medicine. She has practiced as a professional nutritionist for 25 years and sees distant clients on the phone as well as local clients at The Roosevelt Baths and Spa, Saratoga Springs, NY. For more info visit SaratogaNutrition.com. Next local Speaking Event: 11/14/2010 Healthy Living Expo: www.saratogahealthyliving.com
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The Green Designer By Sophie Castro & Karen Totino
Eco-Friendly Paint for a HEALTHY HOME
Winter is a time when we feel like making our homes more festive, more vibrant and welcoming. Often all is needed is a fresh coat of paint – but what about the smell, especially in the winter when it is harder to open the windows? That paint smell is actually a concern, and not only in the winter season. Most paints available on the market are not so health-friendly and it is important to know what you’re getting. Essentially, what is unhealthy and creates that ‘new paint smell’ are the volatile organic compounds (VOC’s). While a number of paints claim to have no VOC’s, the Federal VOC limits are set at 250 grams per liter (g/l) for flat paints and 380 g/l for others – so there is still quite a large amount of toxicity in those products.*
other ‘green paint’ manufacturers. Mythic guarantees that this process gives their paint a high and reliable performance. The result is a zero VOC and zero carcinogen product "Safe for People, Safe for Pets, Safe for the Earth", as their logo claims. It does not have the ‘new paint’ smell, is stain resistant and easy to clean. There are 1,232 colors available in all sheens for interior and exterior use, as well as ceiling paint and primers. The colorants added to their base are also non-toxic, unlike typical paints which VOC’s levels will commonly increase as the added tints also contains VOC’s.
It is important to be aware that the effect of toxic agents from paints is especially dangerous when the space remains occupied during remodeling or VOCs are solvents that get released in the highest repainting–and especially if there are children. In concentrations during paint application, and most scenarios such as pregnancy, newborn bedrooms, paint will continue to emit odorless and harmful pet spaces and birdcages, the non-toxic aspect of fumes for years afterwards. They can cause acute Mythic makes it a very appropriate paint option. symptoms, including headaches and dizziness. The long-term effects are less obvious, but according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), some VOCs are suspected carcinogens. The EPA has discovered through studying indoor air quality that concentration of air pollutants, such as VOC’s, are 10 times higher indoors than outdoors.
Consider this as food for thoughts, so that when you shop for paint you can be a bit more critical and look more deeply into what the product is made of. No matter what paint you will end up selecting, do enjoy your new walls! And do make a point to bring in fresh air into your home as you do your renovations to minimize indoor pollution.* The United States Green Building Council's LEED for Homes program requires 150 gal/l VOC limit for non-flats and 50 gal/l VOC limit for flats. * The United States Green Building Council's LEED for Homes program requires 150 gal/l VOC limit for non-flats and 50 gal/l VOC limit for flats. Karen Totino & Sophie Castro own Green Conscience Home & Garden, 33 Church St, in Saratoga Springs. Green Conscience is the local Mythic Paint dealer and a retail showroom that offers a variety of organic, ecofriendly lawn, garden and home improvement products. Call 306-5196 or email: Karen@green-conscience.com.
There is one company that has been dedicated to the manufacture of a truly ‘green’ paint. It is called Mythic. A subsidiary of Southern Diversified Products (SDP), it associated with the University of Southern Mississippi and, in 2007, after more than 6 years of intensive polymer research, launched a new paint – it is quite revolutionary as the production process detoxifies the latex paint at its core, as opposed to removing toxins from the paint at a later stage – the usual method practiced by
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THE GIFT OF SELF-REFLECTION
Conscious Giving and Our Holiday Celebrations Story and Photos by Johanna Sophia
There is such a wide range of 'green' product out there by now that we can rejoice in the many choices! When we ad the criterion “locally made” to our selection process, we become even more conscious of our picks There are products small and large. We can give each other homegrown herbs from our kitchen windowsill or homegrown energy from solar systems installed on our rooftops - and everything in-between. However, when thinking about 'consciousness', and 'conscious giving', I find myself reviewing the different aspects of giving and the different ways we can be conscious of the entire process of giving. I want to redefine 'gifts' beyond products. When not giving a product, we have long had vouchers and gift certificates but they too have a dollar value attached to them and I'm thinking of including gifts that are definable by categories other than a dollar value. These are gifts recognizing the other peoples' needs and supporting them in their process of meeting those needs. How can we then, at this time of Thanksgiving and the holidays, celebrate each other and the gifts we give each other as caring, loving human beings in a more spiritual, more emotional manner? How can we get way beyond polite cards worded by others and polite thank you cards in return, and beyond gifts that are discarded, stacked or stored
A table set for Lilliane. 14 ecolocalliving.com
by the recipient? If we want to grow the notion of giving and receiving truly from the heart in a manner that helps us grow as human beings, loving parents, siblings, and friends, we may broaden our perspective on the giving process for this coming season. So let's explore the expansion of gift giving. Last year, one of our interns at Sophia's Center (www.sophiascenter.com) was a young woman named Lilliane. She was to be a 20-year old intern from overseas living and working with us for 3 months. She would come mainly to learn English for her studies and to work with me in house and garden. In her last email before I picked her up from the airport, she mentioned that her face was badly affected by acne. When she arrived, she hung her head to her chest, walked awkwardly and shook as much hair over her cheeks and eyes as she could. As I embraced her and welcomed her, she relaxed in my arms like a child; but only for a moment. A few days later, between tears and sighs of exhaustion, she told me she had not been happy in years. Of course, her unhappiness was not only about her body, she felt like a wounded soul in search of love and recognition. I learned that she needed to heal herself not only from the severe skin condition affecting large parts of her body, but also from a systemic infection. The red and purple acne was the outward sign of a systemic infection of a rare rheumatoid disease causing broad purplish bumps on her legs and chest from inner tissue infection. Luckily, I was quite confident that she could heal herself with a cleansing diet of home grown, local organic foods, much sunshine, fresh air, chlorine free water, and lots of love. The love would mean hugs and encouragement but also confronting her self-pity, her indulgence with cigarettes and other drugs, lack of direction and therefore lack of self-confidence. Since it was Spring, I assigned her to create our vegetable garden and to create meals. Half way into her healing process, she had her 21st birthday. For her healing, she was on a raw vegan diet and could not eat traditional cakes and sweets for the event. So we made her a raw cake from nuts and fresh fruits and a big yummy fruit smoothie. We also had found her some good books.
remembered or thought about that year of her life. We would definitely give her this life-reflection ceremony. However, I wanted yet something else, something raising her consciousness of self and surroundings, I wanted to understand our Giving and Receiving from yet another angle. My revelation as to the much more important gifts we can and do give each other, often unconsciously, came when I realized I was giving Lilliane 'non-packaged' gifts every day. So I wrote them down on pieces of paper which were then rolled up so she could unravel them one by one and read them out loud to the birthday crowd at the breakfast table: “Gifts for my 21st birthday:” “The gift of Naturally Healed Skin” “Understanding that I Can Take Care of my Body” - “Learning Responsibility for my Well-being” “Showing My Face Proudly” - “Feeling Beautiful” “Making others feel good, too” - “Learning to Create a Garden” - “Learning to Prepare Raw Foods” - “Sharing Healthy Meals with Family and Friends” - “Allowing Myself to Laugh Every Day” “Feeling Happy” - “Loving My Life”… and there were other more personal 'gifts' mentioned in these slips, after all, she was turning 21 and officially becoming a full adult. Because we all love the unwrapping process, I wrapped the slips of paper in colorful tissue paper and created a pile of them on our beautifully decorated breakfast table: these were my gifts to her to enhance her self-confidence and her sense of importance in an environment where others appreciated her and her abilities. And the ceremony that followed is what is important and will probably be remembered all her life:
Lilliane is brought to the decorated birthday table. She starts out by picking up the first flower and holds it in her hand, pondering and then revealing the little she knows about how she was conceived. “I was a child of love,” she says. Then, soon, that love turns out to be non-committal and she remembers the loss of her father in her life and the loss of happiness in her mother. Then came the experience of nursery school and kindergarten which she abhorred and feared. In second grade, her mother finds a Waldorf school nearby - “That Then I thought of the gift of self-reflection, a was my salvation,” Lilliane says sincerely, with the ceremony we had done a few times before with 8th flower in her hand, and a smile shining through interns and exchange students. I sent my children the tears streaming down her face. The good years out to pick 21 dandelion flowers in the yard and I at Waldorf are later dimmed by the appearance of placed the flowers in a semi circle around Lilliane's her stepfather who expects academic performance plate. She was to pick up the flowers, one after the while she excels in the arts and is not among the other and tell us something important she ones in her class who shine in math. Later, peer
A Gotthilf-Michael Puetz Watercolor Workshop pressure and unhappy infatuations make her teenage years miserable again. She wants to retreat into a fairy world of reliable friendships, kindness, and appreciation but reality drives her to anorexia and an ongoing struggle with her selfesteem. But there are best friends. And best friends connect her with this place, Sophia's Center, where she will make a new start. When she gets to the present and to her coming year 22, she says, “This will be my year of happiness!” Then she unravels the many little paper slips one after the other. After the second one, she adds a joyous “Hurray!” or “Yeah!!” or “I love it!” to the reading of each 'gift,' and the last one is followed by a cheerful “oh man-oh man!” “Group hug!” my daughter exclaims and we all gather, holding tightly onto each other's shoulders, cheering Lilliane.
mine, shall have them as a gift,” he insisted. He would not take out an insurance policy either. If someone felt the need to steal them, they should have them, he maintained. “Art is a gift we give to the world and to each other. It creates beauty and beauty enhances peace,” he would teach. Each of us can bring forth pieces of our inner beauty when painting. Therefore, creating a piece of art and giving it as a gift, can also be part of that expansion of giving. However, we should be conscious of the recipient's perception of our art. If we can anticipate that appreciation, thankfulness and a big smile will not be the result of such a gift, we should think twice.
Gift-creation workshops are fun settings in which to create such art or useful handcrafted gifts. The homemade, handmade, local ingredient containing, From the process of helping Lilliane heal herself, I socially peace enhancing or life change supporting became more conscious of the many gifts we give gifts, are thus the most Conscious Gifts. But let me each other every day and during special challenges. quickly contradict myself: if we know that the I learned to be more attentive to these kinds of gifts family peace is at stake, or continuous musical I receive from others. And maybe I found a new way instrument practice, execution of chores, or of making each other more aware of these gifts and scholastic performance, on the part of our children, can be maintained by giving the gift of that latest finding simple rituals that celebrate them more. Japanese game or gadget, then, sometimes, this My father, Gotthilf-Michael Puetz, was a painter, contradictory giving may just provide the necessary sculptor, educator and founder of many Waldorf balance - and we should pick our battles as long as schools and institutions, enhancing a more we are conscious of the greater goals! May conscious education. Even toward the end of his happiness and peace prevail. life, when showing an exhibit of over 70 beautiful, Wishing you a wonderful conscious gift-giving large watercolor paintings in schools and season. Love from the eco-local-heart, institutions, he refused to sell his paintings. “Those Johanna Sophia (pictured right) who want to surround themselves with paintings of
We can be conscious of the product we are giving and where it came from - was it locally produced or did it travel from far away? We can be conscious of the impact or the usefulness the gift will have in the recipient's hands. We can be conscious of the environmental impact the gift will have - is it made of recyclable material, or not. We can be conscious of the recipient's frame of mind and our very unique relationship with him or her. What falls within the realm of giving?. Can we include the process of giving in a new individually conscious manner?
Johanna Sophia ecolocalliving.com 15
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Green Organizers
Two Local Businesses Help to Repurpose your Stuff By Tracy Frisch Adopting the Zero Waste goal involves changing practices in order to systematically reduce the volume and toxicity of waste. Instead of being discarded and land filled or incinerated, products and materials get reused, recycled, composted or repurposed. The objective is to conserve all resources.The things that cannot be cycled back into something useful need to be redesigned or avoided. Hundreds of cities, towns and larger political jurisdictions around the world are showing that Zero Waste makes economic and ecological sense. Are you one of the millions of Americans who is drowning in too much stuff? Do you cringe at the thought of throwing it all away? You no longer have to deal with this problem alone. Two small Capital Region businesses, each with a green conscience, specialize in relieving people of the clutter and detritus of the consumer economy they wish to get rid of. Green Martha and Co. and Ecolibrium LLC help people sustainably organize, clean out and dispose of their excess baggage. And both enterprises make sure that most of the things that their clients no longer want will be sold, donated, recycled or otherwise repurposed. For people using these services, the trash becomes the very last resort.
In some shape or form ML has been doing this work, which came naturally for her, since the 1980s, "well before organizing had a name." About a year ago she kicked her professional organizing work up a notch to make it her main livelihood.
Definition of Sustainability: "Meeting the needs of the present generation without compromising the ability of future generations
GREEN MARTHA
to meet theirs."
Operating as Green Martha, ML Healey of Greenwich, NY, calls herself a sustainability advocate. Helping people sort, organize and manage the stuff that is driving them crazy is the current emphasis of her business. She advertises a specialty in family and elders. ML uses a gentle approach to guide people through her organizing process. "If I strong-arm people to let go of their stuff, they're likely to just fill up the space again because of the hole in their hearts," she explains.
-United Nations, 1987, Report of the Brundtland Commission
ML Healey 18 ecolocalliving.com
Over the years ML developed and refined her process as an organizer by helping friends. When they went through transitions, she would help them weed out their belongings, pack and set up new living spaces. She also got lots of practice by moving again and again when she was younger.
One of the reasons she finds so much satisfaction in organizing stuff is that she perceives it to be "a mental puzzle." It's not any particular interest in what stuff someone else has, she notes. It's also gratifying to provide a service that makes people's lives easier. "So often I'll go into someone's house and find the things that they use all the time are just piled up," she remarked. They don't have any room in their cupboards because they're filled with things that they never use. By going through this process, clients end up having only what they want, ML explains. They also know what they have - and where it's stored. Otherwise they may buy something they already own but cannot find, or simply do without it altogether.
THE PSYCHOLOGICAL DIMENSIONS People seeking the services of an organizer tend to be overwhelmed. They have some sort of mess on their hands. Either they don't know where to begin to fix it or they don't have the confidence to embark on such a big, scary project themselves. According to ML, "Most people end up in this sort of situation because they've gone through some extended period of unusual circumstances - a dying parent, a traumatic move, or anything big, and they hit this blip of weeks, months, or years where their stuff just gets beyond them." Over the course of our lives, many of us accumulate lots of things. They might be our own. But also our residences can become the depository of stuff that belonged to our kids who left ten or twenty years ago or our parents who died. Interestingly, ML finds that most of her clients "are greatly relieved" that her process stresses reuse and recycling, and this seems to aid in overcoming psychological resistance. "They're willing to let go, but don't want to trash things," she observes. She directs them to good places for things in good condition to go, and that give donors a tax deduction. The task is to enable people to regain control over their lives. As much as possible, ML seeks to empower her clients and facilitate their organizing process, rather than do it for them. Before she takes on a job, ML, like other organizers, has to look at the situation. The amount of help a person needs varies from "a little advice and a pat on the back" (which someone can receive at her initial free half-hour consultation) to attention over a period of weeks. And people may know how to
go about organizing their stuff, but may first have to overcome "some sort of logjam." Occasionally ML does pro bono work with people, like single mothers being evicted or otherwise in crisis, for whom paying would be a hardship. In certain circumstances, it falls on her to actually do the work. At times she even travels for a big job, for instance, when an elderly parent is moving into assisted living and the children are unable to take on the project themselves.
GREEN MARTHA'S ORGANIZING PROCESS ML starts with determining what categories to put things in. After the macro sort, ML proceeds to the micro sort. The first step is to assemble all the items in a given category. Once this is done, all items of one type, be they gloves or automotive parts, which are no longer serviceable, go for recycling or into the trash. The client then selects the items that he or she wants to keep, and those that a friend or relative would like. Items with value - and a market --get put aside to be sold. The stuff remaining, if it's in good enough condition, is donated to a thrift shop or reuse center. ML takes a strong ethical stand on charity donations. She teaches her clients not to donate stuff that thrift shop volunteers would have to throw out and pay disposal costs for. "It's disrespectful," she points out. In terms of the organizing process, ML rejects an altogether different approach - sorting a box a week or at a time - though it appears to be less overwhelming. She says, "I don't feel that gets to the heart of the situation." Often, she finds boxes containing mixtures of say laundry, mail, financial documents, and toys - "everything someone pushed off the kitchen table because company was coming." How, she wonders, can you make an intelligent decision about what to keep unless you're able to see the whole picture of all the things of one kind.
SUSTAINABILITY AS A WAY OF LIFE ML adopted the moniker Green Martha in 1999 as a sustainability advisor residing on Martha's Vineyard. There she did a web column called Green Martha in the Kitchen for the principal grocery store, did green event planning and published a couple editions of Green Martha's Souvenir Guide to EcoEtiquette. Her sustainable ethic is rooted in her upbringing. "I learned sustainability from my family because that's how they lived," she said. "We've always been very sustainable minded in terms of material use and reuse and disposal." Like her parents, who ran several small businesses - selling fruit and vegetables, running a summer camp and operating a couple school buses ML has also gravitated to work in the small business sector, except when she has been self-employed. ML derives insights into sustainability from an unlikely source - two different "grand dames" for whom she kept house on Martha's Vineyard. While doing what she calls "museum quality work" for them, she also learned some principles to live by. Their lifestyle, she said, taught her about "the demarcation between Old World wealth and the rest of us." "These women always had enough storage space - because they only had what they want and need. They're just not consumers like the younger generations." When they did buy something, they would opt for the best quality - which is not necessarily the most expensive -- because it will last, she said. Their relation to time also impressed ML. "They're not cramming things into their days, just like they're not cramming things into their cupboards. They managed their time, and they said no much more easily than the rest of us." ML recognizes the impact of socioeconomic class on sustainability. Affluent people are known for their much bigger carbon footprints, but on the other end of the spectrum, living sustainably can be rough for other reasons. "Poor people don't have the money to plan further out. They got to buy the cheapest thing -- that will break right away. It's a trap," she contends. And anyone struggling to make ends meet tends to be profoundly overwhelmed. -Continued on Page 35
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Alternative Energy
Empire Solar Store is Hot! Story and Photos by David DeLozier
The Wiltshire Family Empire Solar Store opened in October of 2008, and is associated with the USA Solar Store group. Each store independently owned, but has cooperative group buying power to gain the leverage of a much larger company. As a diversified alternative energy retailer, Empire Solar Store is unique in upstate New York, and has become a go-to source for renewable home energy products and solar systems. Owner Rodney Wiltshire - along with wife Jolene have brought a plethora of affordable alternative energy choices to the Capital Region, including the most efficient refrigerators, dishwashers and washing machines on the market, ultra-insulated hot water storage tanks, and even waterless, composting toilets. Empire Solar offers both PV electric and hot water solar systems, and it is the hot water technology which offers the quickest return on investment for upstate New York customers. “Every day the sun 20 ecolocalliving.com
Empire Solar Store is not just about alternative energy it's also about saving the energy you are already using. shines, you can make hot water,' explains Rodney. “What's nice about solar hot water systems is that they still work when it's an overcast sky. It's an affordable first step in renewable energy use. Rodney said that about 30% of every home's fuel bill is directed to heating water. Thermal solar systems can provide up to 80% of a building's hot water use for about 30 years. High fuel prices have raised electricity and oil costs so much that most
residential solar hot water systems pay for themselves in 5-6 years, resulting in 25 years of “free” sun-powered hot water. “That's hot!” piped in Jolene. For those who are interested in Solar Electric generation, Rodney is proud to be an exclusive dealer for Sun Works photovoltaic (PV) panels. “They're German engineered and built to the industry's highest standards,” said Rodney. “A lot of the panels you see out there are from China, and while they are cheaper, their reliability and performance are inferior to these ones,” pointing to the sturdy German made panel. With a 25 year warranty and their solid German craftsmanship, Rodney is confident that these panels will deliver free electricity for years to come. With state and federal incentives, that payoff is rather short, too. “No matter which technology you choose, you're paying for energy; either continue to pay the utility
Empire Solar Store offers: • Interior storm windows made by Advanced Energy Panels of Albany. The custom window insulators cost $10 a square foot and can be installed in historic homes without violating local preservation laws. • Solar radiant flooring, which emits low heat to floors and increases room air temperature as a result. A whole system including solar costs about $15,000. • The $40 Kill-A-Watt meter, which plugs into appliances so people can see how much energy they consume when turned on, or in some cases turned off. So-called “phantom loads” from cell phone chargers and laptop connections suck electricity even when they're not in use. companies, or buy your own utility and create your energy for free,” explains Rodney. It’s not just for the committed environmentalist or some rich techie guy - the price has come down to the point where it has become a very realistic and competitive energy solution for just about anybody.” Empire Solar store is not just about alternative energy - it's also about saving the energy you are already using. Rodney has looked at all the options for insulating ones home, and determined that Radiant Foil is the most cost effective and simplest to install of any of the products out there. It looks like sheets of foil-covered bubble wrap. Properly installed with a trapped air space between the foil and a wall, Radiant Foil has an “R” value equal to the more expensive and messy spray foam, and blocks infiltration just as well. Empire Store started out with the goal of helping out the local economy as much as it could. That's why we located in Troy,” said Rodney. I could have put this store anywhere, but I chose Troy because I live here, and I want to make my community here in Troy more sustainable. Empire Solar Store promotes local whenever they can, and Rodney proudly offers Advanced Energy Panels, made right in Albany. “This product is ingenious - you install it over existing windows and it insulates better than a replacement window - for a fraction of the cost,” explains Rodney. “The fact that these are locally made is a huge bonus - you can save money and help out a local businessman who hires local people. It's a win-win! “ he said. For as much as the folks at Empire Solar Store can talk the green energy talk, they're also just as committed to walking the walk. That's why the store uses all CFL and LED lighting, as well as using a wood-pellet stove to provide heat to the building in the winter. “Wood pellets are just another form of solar energy,” said Rodney. The Wiltshire's have plans to power the store completely with solar power, so that it can be a demo site for anybody who wants to see how it all works. “The store will be off-the-grid,' explained
Rodney. The Wiltshire's' home is an easy 5 minute walk away so that there is no need to “commute” by car. “We really live by our motto, 'we're not here just to make a buck, we are here to make a difference,” Rodney said.
• High efficiency lighting: CFL's and the latest in LED technology • High efficiency appliances: dishwashers, clothes washers and dryers, and refrigerators • Composting toilets, which use little or no water and turn human waste into garden fertilizer. Rodney swears they don't smell if they're used correctly. • Wood pellet stoves. • Photovoltaic solar panels that generate electricity from solar power, for both grid-tied and off-grid systems. • Hydroelectric generators. • Small windmills for home use. • Solar hot water systems. • Solar powered flashlights, gadgets and accessories. Empire Solar Store is located at 6 Brunswick Rd (Rt. 2) in Troy, NY Call (518) 687-0135 or go online to www.empiresolarstore.com
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Vincek Farm
Harvest Time at Local Farm By Amy L. Stock Photos by StockStudiosPhotography.com
John Vincek makes his living as a farmer, a rare breed in an industry where many farmers have part-time or full time jobs off the farm. Vincek, who inherited the farm from his grandfather, “has been farming his whole life” according to his wife Laura. First helping his grandfather run his dairy farm, then, taking over the farm. Vincek, who had little interest in dairy, converted the farm to cash crops - wheat, rye, oat, corn and hay - which he sells primarily to nearby horse farms. The Vinceks also have a large vegetable garden and garden stand. Over time the farm has grown to approx. 175 acres. However, Vincek Farm is best known for their pumpkins and Thanksgiving turkeys! Their pumpkin patch draws people from around the region. According to Laura, the pumpkin patch 22 ecolocalliving.com
started out as a lesson in farming for the Vincek's children. Said Laura, “It started out as our children's business, and just kept growing and growing.” She added, “John was teaching them how to grow vegetables, and the children decided to grow and sell pumpkins - they wanted money for family vacations.” As more people drove past asking to buy pumpkins, the business just grew. Their holiday turkey business grew in a similar manner. What started in the early 1990's with John and two friends raising six turkeys for their family's holiday dinner's, turned into raising and selling 200 turkey's each year. According to Laura, people driving by stopped and asked about the turkeys feeding in their yard. When they learned they were raising them for Thanksgiving
dinner, they asked, 'oh, can you raise one for me?' From there the business grew to 200, pre-order turkeys sold fresh each year for Thanksgiving dinner. The free-range turkeys are fed soy-based grain when young, then feed primarily on the pasture and vegetables grown on the farm. Said Laura, “Right now their diet is pumpkin. They love it and eat all the parts - seeds, rinds and all.” The pre-order turkeys are slaughtered and ready for pick up the Monday before Thanksgiving. All the processing is done on the farm, the turkeys, sold fresh, are free of steroids or other shots. One of the last working farms in the Town of Wilton, according to Laura, the farm has really benefited from the houses which have sprouted up around them.
“The development around us has provided a market for our turkeys, pumpkins and vegetable stand.” She added, “People are really happy to have a working farm near and really happy to support that.”
them. Laura also runs a 10-room guesthouse in the original 300 year-old brick farmhouse on the property. The guesthouse, popular with wedding parties and other special events, is available for rent three-seasons.
The Vincek's grow a wide assortment of vegetables each year - zucchini, squash, beans, tomatoes, cucumbers, and eggplants among others - which they sell at the vegetable stand. A diversified operation, crop success can vary depending upon the weather and other conditions. The Vinceks strive to do no spraying, so some years some crops just do better than others. They also built a small greenhouse which they use to grow vegetable starts.
Hard working, flexible and very diversified, these traits form the cornerstone of this highly successful farm, and are certain to carry it forward for the next generation of Vincek Farmers.
A true family business, John oversees all the farm operations. Laura, his wife and “chief cook and bottle washer”, helps in all aspects of the farm. John's father loves to drive the tractor and continues to do so in retirement. The Vincek children, now grown, continue to come and help on the farm, and one day John will pass it onto
If you go: The Vincek Farm is located at 89 Smith Bridge Road in the Town of Wilton. The vegetable stand is open through the fall. For more information and to find out about the availability of Thanksgiving Turkeys, call 518-587-0837. Amy L. Stock is a freelance writer and environmental educator living and working in Saratoga Springs, NY. Her writing focuses on buying local, sustainability and green living. You can email her at astock42@gmail.com or through her blog, goinggreensaratoga.blogspot.com.
John, Laura and Josh Vincek
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Pastured
Turkey Cooking Tips
Please be flexible. If you are buying your pasture-raised turkey from a small, local, sustainable farmer, thank you VERY much for supporting us. That said, please remember that pasture-raised turkeys are not like factory-farmed birds. Outside of conscientious animal husbandry, we are unable to control the size of our Thanksgiving turkeys. Please be forgiving if the bird we have for you is a little larger or a little smaller than you anticipated. Cook a sizeable quantity of sausage stuffing if it is too small (a recipe appears on page 36), or enjoy the leftovers if it is too large. If the bird is so large that it cannot fit in your oven, simply remove the legs before roasting it. Know what you are buying. If you don’t personally know the farmer who is growing your turkey, take the time to know what you are buying! “Pastured” is not necessarily the same as “free-range.” Some grass-based farmers use the word “free-range” to describe their pasture-raised birds, but any conventional factory farm can also label their birds “free-range” if they are not in individual cages, and if they have “access” to the outdoors – even if the “outdoors” happens to be feces-laden penned-in concrete pads outside the barn door, with no access to grass. “Pastured” implies that the bird was out on grass for most of its life, where it ate grass and foraged for bugs, in addition to receiving some grain. Brining optional. If tradition dictates that you season your meat by brining your bird, by all means, do so. However, many people brine in order to keep the bird from drying out. This is not at all necessary. Pastured birds are significantly juicier and more flavorful than factory farmed birds. You can spare yourself this extra step as a reward for making the sustainable holiday choice! Monitor the internal temperature. Somewhere, a lot of folks came to believe that turkeys needed to be roasted until they had an internal temperature of 180 degrees Fahrenheit. Yuck. You don’t need to do that. Your turkey need only be cooked to 165 degrees. If the breast is done and the thighs are not, take the bird out of the oven, carve off the legs and thighs, and put them back in to cook while you carve the breast and make your gravy. That entire holiday myth about coming to the table with a perfect whole bird and then engaging in exposition carving is about as realistic as expecting our daughters will grow up to look like Barbie (and who’d want that, anyhow?). Just have fun and enjoy the good food. Cook the stuffing separately. I know a lot of folks like to put the stuffing inside their holiday birds, and if Thanksgiving will be positively ruined if you break tradition, then stuff away. However, for a couple reasons, I recommend cooking your stuffing separately. First, everyone’s stuffing recipe is different. Therefore, the density will not be consistent, which means that cooking times will vary dramatically. I am unable to recommend a cooking time, since I cannot control what stuffing each person uses. Also, due to food safety concerns, I happen to think it is safer to cook the stuffing outside the bird. Plus, it is much easier to lift and move both the bird and the stuffing when prepared separately, and to monitor the doneness of each. Rather than putting stuffing in my bird’s cavity, I put in aromatics, like an onion, carrot, garlic and some fresh herbs. When the bird is cooked, I add these aromatics to my compost heap. The aromatics perfume the meat beautifully, and the only seasoning I wind up using on the surface is butter, salt and pepper. No need to flip. I used to ascribe to that crazy method of first roasting the bird upside down, then flipping it over to brown the breast. The idea was that the bird would cook more evenly, and the breast wouldn’t dry out. When I did this,
By Shannon Hayes the turkey came out fine. But I suffered 2nd degree burns, threw out my back, ruined two sets of potholders and nearly dropped the thing on the floor. Pasture-raised turkeys are naturally juicy. Don’t make yourself crazy with this stunt. Just put it in the oven breast-side up like you would a whole chicken, and don’t over-cook it. Take it out when the breast is 165 degrees (see #2, above). If, despite the disparaging comments in item 2, above, you still want to show off the whole bird, then bring it into the dining room, allow everyone to ooh and aah, then scuttle back to the kitchen, and proceed as explained above. Be ready for faster cook times. Pasture-raised turkeys will cook faster than factory-farmed birds. Figure on 12-15 minutes per pound, uncovered, at 325 degrees as you plan your dinner. That said, oven temperatures and individual birds will always vary. Use an internal meat thermometer to know for sure when the bird is cooked. For more help with cooking your turkey, don’t forget to refer to The Grassfed Gourmet Cookbook by Shannon Hayes. What?!? You don’t own a copy yet? Click here to buy one immediately! Use a good-quality roasting pan. If this is your first Thanksgiving and you do not yet own a turkey roasting pan and cannot find one to borrow, treat yourself to a really top-quality roaster, especially if you have a sizeable bird. (I don’t like to endorse products, but I must say that my favorite is the large stainless All-Clad roaster. Last I knew they were still made in the U.S.A. – but then, I bought mine ten years ago, so that may have changed. My mom has other name-brand roasting pans, and they are shabby in comparison to mine. Please don’t tell her I said that…) Cheap aluminum pans from the grocery store can easily buckle when you remove the bird from the oven, potentially causing the cook serious burns or myriad other injuries in efforts to catch the falling fowl. Plus, they often end up in the recycling bin, or worse, landfills. If you buy a good quality large roasting pan, and you happen to have a copy of The Grassfed Gourmet Cookbook (another shameless hint), I guarantee you will have multiple uses for the pan! Pick the meat off the bird before making stock. If you plan to make soup from your turkey leftovers, be sure to remove all the meat from the bones before you boil the carcass for stock. Add the chunks of turkey back to the broth just before serving the soup. This prevents the meat from getting rubbery and stringy. For an extra-nutritious stock, follow the advice offered in Nourishing Traditions, by Sally Fallon, and add a tablespoon of vinegar to the water 30 minutes before you begin boiling the carcass or, better still, use the recipe for chicken stock in The Grassfed Gourmet Cookbook (again, you still have time to order a copy!!). The process of adding acid to the stock draws more minerals from the bones and releases them into the liquid. Help is available. In recent years, our home seems to have become the unofficial Sustainable Thanksgiving Hotline. Please do not hesitate to write to me with your questions at feedback@shannonhayes.info. I make a point of checking email often right up through Thanksgiving Day (I stop around noon), so that I can promptly respond to your questions or concerns. If you are in dire straights, you can call me at 518 827 7595 before 8pm most evenings, but I do prefer email. See page 36 for my favorite Walnut Sausage Stuffing and enjoy your holiday! Shannon Hayes is the host of grassfedcooking.com, the author of The Farmer and the Grill and The Grassfed Gourmet. She works with her family on Sap Bush Hollow Farm in Upstate New York. Her newest book, Radical Homemakers: Reclaiming Domesticity from a Consumer Culture, is due out really, really, really soon.o ecolocalliving.com 25
Ballston Spa
Buy Fair and Buy Local By Brian Crouth
For those whose first love and focus is promoting a fair price for global farmers, and the many others whose passion and activism is aimed at building a sustainable local economy, the Fair Trade and “Buy Local” movements may seem like strange bed fellows. Not so for the Village of Ballston Spa. This small and vibrant community is approaching its twoyear anniversary as a nationally recognized “Fair Trade Town.” Its local businesses, consumers, students, and churches are proving that not only can these two causes co-exist, but they can also be powerful allies towards a sustainable future. Kim Andersen, who with her husband Chris is a coowner of Mango Tree Imports, has her own story to tell. I met with Kim over a cup of fair trade coffee (of course) that I purchased at her local business neighbor, Coffee Planet. Kim's insights point the way to why buying fair and buying local naturally go hand in hand. WHAT IS A FAIR TRADE TOWN ANYWAY? On December 8, 2008, the Village Board of Trustees for Ballston Spa, under national guidelines defined by the fair trade certifier Fair Trade USA, passed a resolution to make Ballston Spa the 9th Fair Trade Town in the United States. This achievement also marked Ballston Spa as the first Fair Trade Town in New York State. With a population of less than 6,000, this accomplishment is a big win for “small town USA” and the local merchant underdog. Ballston Spa
joins the likes of larger and more high profile, progressive cities such as Brattleboro, VT, Northampton, MA, and San Francisco, CA. This victory came from grassroots efforts led by the Ballston Spa Fair Trade Coalition who from the start had this special goal in mind. Close to a year of solid, strategic actions that resulted in the Fair Trade Town designation included educating local consumers, formal presentations to the Ballston Spa Business and Professionals Association (BSBPA) and Mayor John Romano, and internal advocacy by local congregation members to influence their church's coffee hour purchasing decisions. In addition, the coalition reached out to local elementary and high school students. One of those Ballston Spa high school students, Jacob McAuliffe, was inspired to later use his filmmaker talents to produce a documentary for this year's “Ballston Spa Film Fest.” The film captures the principles behind Fair Trade and includes interviews with the local business owners who are the backbone for Ballston Spa's Fair Trade Town, and their motivations for getting involved. The passion behind this local movement was driven by a strong desire to positively impact the global economy along with the real faces and livelihoods beneath it all. But there was also an equally strong desire to make a difference for Ballston Spa's own local economy. As a Fair Trade Town, Ballston Spa is now empowered to be a change agent for the choices its local businesses
make for what they buy and sell, and what their village shoppers choose to purchase. With currently more than 10 restaurant, cafes, and stores carrying some mix of fair trade products for sale, Ballston Spa's network of local fair trade businesses offer many opportunities to make a difference through one's everyday purchases. Asked how things stand almost two years after being cast in the Fair Trade limelight, Kim says that the number of participating local businesses and community organizations continues to grow. Here's a sample of the kind of shopping experience you can expect in Ballston Spa's Fair Trade Town: enjoying a scrumptious meal at Fifty South from a menu that strives to incorporate fair trade ingredients; shopping at Wild Thyme Whole Food & Tea for fair trade bananas, vanilla, rice, and more; sipping a warm libation with a friend at The Whistling Kettle, or Coffee Planet; demonstrating faith in action, and solidarity with farmers around the world, at First Presbyterian and Christ Episcopal churches' Sunday coffee hour; discovering a fair trade wine at Mid-Town Wine & Spirits; and heading to Art Alley for a handcrafted scarf, bracelet, or the perfect gift from Mango Tree Imports. With the holidays drawing near, one might also be surprised to learn that the price tag for these gourmet quality and specialty items can be equal to, or sometimes less than, a non-fairly traded item. Kim Andersen's store carries thousands of high quality, handcrafted items from over 65 Photo by CapturedLightPhotography.com
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Kim Anderson at Mango Tree Imports countries around the world. Kim is quick to point out, “ Even in a tough economy, a person can come to Mango Tree Imports and do all of their holiday shopping on a budget, and in a fair trade store.” Knowing that everything in her store is fairly traded, Kim's customers can leave with appealing and affordable items feeling good that they are supporting a living wage for the producers Mango Tree brings to market. “A living wage helps eradicate sweat shops and child labor.” Other lesser known benefits that come with a commitment to pay artisans and producers a fair wage in exchange for high quality products are gender equality, improved education for children, environmental and cultural sustainability, economic transparency, and supporting democratically-based businesses. In turn, the consumers who make the choices to purchase fair trade products from the stores that sell them also become agents of change towards a more just world. WHO DO I SUPPORT MY LOCAL OR THE GLOBAL ECONOMY? Fair Trade products have been offered for sale in the United States since 1986 when the Bostonbased, pioneer Equal Exchange began importing and selling coffee beans from Nicaragua. In a more recent time period, the “Buy Local” movement emerged as a push back to the unwelcome arrival of big-box stores, such as Walmart, in their communities. With the lower prices that a larger brand store can offer due to economies of scale and a global supply chain, local (and typically smaller) businesses are less able to compete. Just like Fair Trade, consumers are faced with a choice. For those on the battle lines of the “Buy Local” movement, the choice is between saving time and money while risking the extinction of community businesses, or being intentional about supporting local businesses - even if it means potentially
paying more and needing to shop at more than one store. For “Buy Local” advocates, the latter choice is the right choice. It is the essential key to preserving the local economy and character of its downtown market place and people. Tensions have existed between the two consumer choices of buying global and fair vs. buying local because at face value they appear to be mutually exclusive. Not so, says Kim Andersen. “I don't know one Fair Trader who doesn't support the local economy.” The fact that Kim is one of the founders of the Strolling Village Artisans, Art Alley's local artisan cooperative, bears witness to her belief that a person can feed two birds with one piece of bread. “Who can honestly say that they have never purchased a necessity or luxury item that wasn't made in China,” says Kim. “Because we no longer live in a world where we carve our own cups, forge iron to make tools, or consume food and beverages that are entirely grown in our own communities, no one can exist in a 100% locallysourced paradigm.” “When you take into account such highly desirable food products as coffee, tea, chocolate, or bananas, none of which are grown in the US, you would never be able to purchase everything local. At the end of the day, the world is our community and not just the person we see everyday.” Kim also shared how her commitment to buying fair and buying local is reflected in her choices on what products she will carry and who she will purchase them from. “I do have the option of importing and selling fair trade honey produced overseas, but as long as I can purchase honey from local farmers, that's where my money goes.” In Kim's eyes, this serves as a great example of her efforts to walk the buy fair and buy local walk. “A person can shop at my 100% fair trade store knowing that there's no need to compete with local farmers.” -Continued on Page 29 ecolocalliving.com 27
From Transport to Tress - From Page 7
chauffeur duty – all while saving energy and supporting public transportation. Not a bad holiday gift for everyone! And speaking of holiday gifts... have you ever spent a Martha Stuart millennium wrapping a package, only to have it decimated in seconds by its eager recipient? If that ripping and tearing is an integral part of your holiday festivities, take a more comical approach - literally. Save the cartoon sections from several Sunday newspapers (or liberate them from a neighbor's recycling on trash day) and use them to wrap children's presents. The colored cartoon pages don't transfer ink to your fingers the way black and white newsprint does, and with the addition of a few fun bows (which get collected in a bag for reuse later), you have a free, colorful, eminently rip-able – and best of all, easily recyclable – holiday wrapping paper. Finally, if you're in the habit of nestling those packages under a live tree, plan on replacing what you've taken. From Jan. 4 through mid-May, you can order tree seedlings from the Department of Environmental Conservation's Saratoga Tree Nursery by calling (518) 587-1120 (information is online at www.dec.ny.gov/docs/lands_forests_pdf/2010brochure.pdf). Stick a post-it reminder on your calendar for Jan. 4 and purchase some pine seedlings to replace – or begin to grow – your own holiday greenery for generations to come. An operator at that number will be able to answer questions, write up an order for you over the phone, and send it to you in the mail for your approval and signature. What better way to go green for the holidays than planning to plant your own greens for the future? Have a happy, hopeful – and sustainable – holiday season, and we hope to see you at a Sustainable Saratoga meeting in 2011! 28 ecolocalliving.com
BUY FAIR and BUY LOCAL - From Page 27
Furthermore, Kim adds, “When a food product or craft comes from a global and fairly traded source, it actually mirrors the farmers market model. Consumers are accessing goods with a more direct connection to the person producing them. I also find that when I buy from local farmers and global producers, the quality is much higher.” In our conversation, Kim introduced a connection between buying fair and buying local that was far less obvious. “Because of how Fair Trade works, people producing quality and saleable goods in the cottage industries within their global communities, they have a better quality of life. When people have a better quality of life, they stay local.” In this way Fair Trade creates a sustainable future for both producers and consumers. ”Now we are all able to stay local in a global community.” Becoming one of the select few 21 US cities sharing Fair Trade Town status, Ballston Spa's participating fair trade businesses symbolize the unifying bond between the global community and every local one. Kim smiles with pride when she communicates this connection. “Ballston Spa has not only achieved national awareness for a small town, it has achieved global awareness for a small town.” Perhaps the truth behind the kindred spirits that buying fair and buying local signify is best captured on Kim's Mango Tree business card: “Locally owned” and “Bringing the world into your home through fair trade.” If your business or organization wants to learn more, or get involved, visit one of Ballston Spa's local fair trade business owners, or contact the Ballston Spa Fair Trade Coalition. To check out Jacob McAuliffe's video documentary, search “venom11808 Fair Trade” on YouTube. Brian Crouth is a loyal farmers market customer and advocate, actively involved at Christ Episcopal Church, and a 5-year veteran of Equal Exchange, the pioneer for Fair Trade coffee, chocolate, and tea in the US. Brian has dedicated his life and livelihood to leading others to make a difference through the choices they make.
Dolls from Mango Tree Imports
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Buy Local, Everyone Wins!
The Bakeshop & Bistro The New York Wine Seller
Widest selection of NY Wines in the area
Home of R&G Cheese Cooking Classes • Educational Seminars Weekly Field Trips Friday Evening Wine Tastings & Dinner nd much more... Get weekly updates by signing up at our website
www.harmonyhousemarketplace.com ecolocalliving.com 31
The Beauty Society
An Organic Approach to Healthy Hair and Skin Story and Pictures by David DeLozier Through the years, the use of chemicals and synthetic ingredients in skincare and hair coloring has raised serious health concerns in a large percentage of the population. Today, there is an increasing demand for pure, natural and organic products for skin and hair care. A natural and organic treatment for the skin and hair has the same importance for your inner health as a natural and organic food. Most people have discovered that the local Farmers Markets are a great source for natural food. Where can you go to find natural skin care and salon services? For those in the know, in an old historic house in “downtown” Malta, there is The Beauty Society - a place where natural and organic treatments are the norm, not the exception.
Non-Toxic Hair Care and Color Treatments Will and Cristina Connolly, owners of The Beauty Society, started in the salon business over 20 years ago. They have been in constant contact with the products of the industry on a daily basis. As the demand for custom color treatments has exploded, The exposure to the harsh chemicals with the products used began to take its toll on their health. Will was shocked to discover that he was diagnosed with cancer. “It was a wake-up call for
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me,' he said. “I realized that in this industry, we are practically bathing in a chemical stew everyday!” Will realized that he would have to make some drastic changes. By taking on a vegetarian diet and purging of chemicals Will was able to beat back the cancer within in him. With a new lease on life, Will dedicated himself to using only natural and organic products in his profession. The Connolly's purged all the chemical treatments from their life, and have since gone completely natural and organic. “The chemicals in hair color were literally killing me,” Will recalls. The hard part, Will said, is finding truly organic products. “A lot of companies will claim that they have an organic base, but when you smell it, you can smell the chemicals,” he said. He then thrust a bowl of his organic hair color towards me and told me to smell it. “No chemical smell!” he exclaimed. The natural products are just as effective as the chemical ones, Cristina explained, but they require more thought and expertise to use. “We have to think about each formulation - the texture of the hair, how much grey is in it, how resistant their grey is, it's not a one-size fits all approach,” she said. The Connolly's have heard of other salons who have claimed that the organic treatments don't
work as well, but the extra time and attention to detail is what has proven successful for them. They take more time with each client, and teach them how to maintain their color over time. The Connolly's did an exhaustive search to find truly organic and natural products for use in their salon. And when they couldn't find something that wasn't natural, they formulated their own. Cristina has even developed her own shampoo bar. That's right, a bar, not a bottle. Called La Vida Dolce, Cristina hand crafts the bars in small batches, using natural vegan ingredients. “It's really gentle on your hair, rinses out cleanly and when it's gone there's no bottle to throw away,” she said. The Connolly's must be doing something right, because they are finding that some of their clients are coming in from as far away as 50 miles!
The Art of Aesthetics The importance of putting natural things on your hair also applies to your skin. Christy Duff, owner of the Art of Aesthetics, has joined up with the Connolly's to offer natural and organic skin care services to her clients. Christy was attracted to the Connolly's holistic approach to hair care, and was thrilled to find that they had a vacant space in the front of their building on Dunning Street, which compelled Christy to make the move from Saratoga Springs to Malta. “It was the perfect opportunity when I saw this space because I live right around the corner,” she said. Christy believes in the re-establishment and maintenance of health in the skin by using products made from ingredients that are manufactured from plants grown in environmentally safe methods and that are developed through humane means. Her product lines are only of the highest quality available and have no unnatural preservatives. Christy has chosen natural and organic skin care treatments because they are the right approach to feed the skin. Skin requires water, vitamins, minerals, essential fatty acids, proteins for its cells as much as your inner body needs them for a proper metabolic function of its organs. This is the natural and valid way of obtaining a younger looking skin for a long period of time while keeping the skin healthy. ”I believe in these products, and it's great to be able to pass them along to others.” Christy said. Christy has a facial steamer that is very effective for acne and oily skin. It's a non-chemical treatment that opens the pores of the skin to release the toxins. Unlike chemical treatments, there is no burning or side effects. Christy develops a relationship with each client and respects their time with her. “I book the appointments with plenty of time in between so that I can give complete attention to the person I am with. I am not rushed to see the next client,' she said. Christy has found that her treatments have made a big impact in her customer's lives. She
Christy Duff uses her skill to enhance the natural beauty in each person that she works with. The little enhancements can have big impacts. “I do a lot with eyebrows,” she said. “They frame the eyes and create balance in the face, particularly with expressions. It's like a natural facelift!” The transformation in her customer's lives is real - self esteem and confidence has improved for many of her clients, Christy explained. “They get comments like 'wow, you look great!' - and they're so grateful for their new and improved look.” Christy prides herself in helping her clients put their best face forward. “I am honored to be a part of these people's life. It's like they are part of my extended family,” she said. Having healthy skin starts early. “I like to work with children and young adults so that can really make an impact by teaching them to take care of their skin and take care of their body. When they make good choices, it does make a huge difference,” said Christy. It's all part of the underlying holistic approach that she integrates into her practice. Christy is also getting some training in Ayurvedic consulting, which looks at a person's lifestyle when diagnosing skin problems. Outward appearance is a reflection of what is going on inside the body. Diet, exercise and whether or not we get adequate rest will all show outwardly. What you're eating, what you're doing, what are you daily activities; all these can play a factor in skin health. Stress and emotional issues can play a large factor, explains Christy. The extra time she spends with each client helps her uncover some of the triggers that could cause skin irritations, flare-ups and other maladies. Holistic skin care is a regimen that recognizes your skin as a reflection of your body's internal state, explained Christy. Holistic approaches take into consideration all aspects of your life and all your symptoms so your entire body will be revitalized and rejuvenated. Not only will you look better, you'll also feel better. Christy is able to tap into the beauty within, and bring it to the surface for a treatment that is not just skin deep. Aptly named, The Art of Aesthetics is all about enhancing the masterpiece that is you! The Beauty Society and The Art of Aesthetics, LLC are both located at 123 Dunning Street., in Malta, just west of the Route 9 roundabout. To contact The Beauty Society, call 899-7570 or visit www.beautysocietysalon.com. To contact The Art of Aesthetics, call 378-8564.
Art of Aesthetic products
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Green Organizers - From Page 19
ECOLIBRIUM LLC Sustainability expert Steven Davis, who's based in the Troy area, started Ecolibrium about a decade ago. In 2008 he turned his business into full-time work after leaving his job as sustainability coordinator at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. Values motivated Steve to get into this line of work. "I don't like waste and I didn't see anyone else providing this service who understands the big picture [of waste]," he said. He sees as his current vehicle to help "move the community toward Zero Waste." [See the sidebar for an explanation of Zero Waste.] Ecolibrium provides clean outs and professional organizing for clients, and sells their unwanted stuff on commission. The skills and networks that Steve has developed enable him to make sure that usable materials do not get wasted. Familiarity with the resale market for a wide range of items gives the business an edge in helping clients decide what's worth putting up for sale. Besides selling on eBay and Craig's list, Steve moves mixed lots of quality goods and antiques at frequent estate sales. "It's fun to look at all the stuff we have. People really get jazzed about it," he said. Another plus are the prices, which are "more on the affordable end," he added. This particular business requires trucking. Steve recently purchased a 14-foot Isuzu box truck. Running on a 4-cylinder engine, this very fuelefficient truck replaces the more awkward, gasoline hungry van and trailer combination previously used by the business. ECOLIBRIUM'S DECISION MAKING HIERARCHY Steve tells his residential customers that he will approach their stuff "as a triage. They understand that concept from the medical field." Steve analyzes a household's surplus stuff through a series of practical questions. The aim is to have
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the lightest, lowest amount of waste left for disposal. • Are items saleable? • If not, can they be donated? • If neither of these reuse options apply, can they be recycled? • Could items be repurposed for a different use? • Finally, could they be disassembled so their components could be recycled or reused? USEFUL SERVICES WHEN SELLING A HOUSE OR JUST MOVING Ecolibrium's typical client is an individual or couple downsizing their possessions in order to transition to a smaller home. The occasion of selling a house often creates an imperative for the homeowner to declutter or get a more radically clean out. As a means to stretch his miniscule marketing budget, Steve zeroed in on realtors as a source for referrals. According to Steve, in House Selling 101 one learns that cluttered houses are more difficult to sell. They're just too distracting for the majority of potential buyers. Very few people are able to imagine how their own stuff would look in a house that's crammed with someone else's belongings. Ecolibrium also preps houses for sale in other ways, such as doing small repairs or a bit of carpentry. Steve is always pleased when his business can make use of unwanted building materials that the homeowner has on hand or that he rescued from previous jobs. Practicing what he preaches, he used 80 percent recovered materials to build a three-season room on the rear of his own house. In a recent situation Steve had to create more room in a crowded basement before he could help his client organize his stuff and decide what to do with it. Using rough-cut pine lumber that his client no longer wanted, he solved the space problem by constructing shelves. Steve said that it might seem strange to build shelving for a client when he is getting ready to move. The payback comes when prospective buyers notice the useful storage space.
THE PATH TOWARD HIS REUSE BUSINESS As a young man, while still in college, Steve lost a parent and was faced with the difficult situation common to many of his customers. "It took me two years to go through the house because I was emotionally involved with the stuff," he said empathetically. After earning his degree in Psychology, which he finds helpful in his line of work, Steve went on to Antioch New England, a non-traditional graduate school. Immersed in the field of non-profit management, he found he would prefer to work for a socially responsible business. At the time, in 1997, "Ben and Jerry's, Stonyfield and Tom's of Maine were all still independent businesses," he said. During grad school, Steve took a side job with a clean out service. Though the business recycled a lot, he was appalled that all kinds of usable stuff were being destroyed or handed off to the employees. What a waste, he thought, when reuse requires less work and brings greater returns than dismantling items. For his Antioch practicum, he chose the Community Warehouse, a non-profit reuse center in Hoosick, NY, because it sounded like exactly what he wanted to do. The initial reality though proved grim. The store had barely any customers, the storage barns were locked, and the resale market in computers had barely been tapped, he said. After Steve completed his stint there, the Community Warehouse created a job for him and then promoted to operations manager. He threw himself into his work, retooled the place and made it run like a viable retail business. "I ended up making $100,000 a year in revenues selling garbage," he said. After three or four years Steve left the Community Warehouse and started Ecolibrium. An inquiry from the student greening coordinator at RPI led to a staff position he held for over seven years. He was able to save the university $50,000 a year just by diverting waste for recycling and reuse. When buildings were remodeled or demolished, he made arrangements to get usable materials into the hands of community groups. By showing results, he said he was able to win people over. ML Healey of Green Marthacan be reached at 518/692-9539 or ML.Healey@verizon.net. She has been putting on a six-part workshop series called "Bringing Sustainability Home" at the Women's Club of Albany, 725 Madison Avenue, Albany, NY 12208. You can catch the last session “Next Step: Tools for our personalized sustainability journeys" on Thurs, Nov. 18, 7-8:30pm, with an optional local foods potluck at 6pm. Cost is $22. for more info visit www.womansclubofalbany.org. Steve Davis of Ecolibrium, LLC. can be reached at 518/833-0739 or sdavis18@nycap.rr.com.
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Walnut Sausage Stuffing
From Shannon Hayes 1 whole baguette, chopped into 1⁄2 inch cubes and allowed to sit out overnight 2 Tablespoons fennel seeds 1 cup walnuts, mildly crushed 2 Tablespoons olive oil 1# Sweet Italian, Hot Italian, or Breakfast sausage 4 Tablespoons butter 4 onions, chopped 2 carrots, peeled and diced 1/2 cup dried cranberries (or use one cup fresh) 1⁄2 cup raisins 2 T rubbed sage 3 cloves garlic, minced 2 tablespoons brandy 6 eggs 3 cups chicken broth 1 teaspoons salt 1 teaspoon black pepper Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Bring a mid-sized skillet up to a medium-hot temperature. Add the fennel seeds and allow them to toast until fragrant. Remove the seeds to a small dish, then add the walnuts to the same hot, dry skillet and allow them to toast 3-5 minutes, taking care to stir them constantly to prevent burning. Pour the walnuts off into a large bowl. Add olive oil to the same skillet, then fry the sausage until it is cooked through (about 8-10 minutes). Remove the sausage to the same large bowl containing the walnuts. Add the butter to the skillet, allowing it to melt and blend with the sausage drippings. Add the onions and carrots, sauté 2 minutes, then add the cranberries and raisins and sauté two minutes longer. Sprinkle the sage over the vegetables, sauté 1 minute, then add the garlic and toasted fennel seeds. Sauté two minutes longer, then add the entire mixture into the large bowl with the walnuts and sausage. To the same big bowl, add the bread, chicken broth, eggs, salt, pepper and brandy, and prepare to get messy. Using your hands (or salad servers), thoroughly mix all the ingredients. Butter a 13 x 9 inch baking pan, add the stuffing, then cover tightly with a piece of buttered aluminum foil. Allow the stuffing to cook 35 minutes, the remove the foil and allow it to bake 30 minutes longer, until the top is nicely crisped and lightly browned. (Serves 8) I’m sure I left a few questions unanswered. Please feel free to write to me at feedback@shannonhayes.info. When you send your email, write “turkey question” in the heading so that I’ll know to respond as quickly as possible (otherwise, we’re so busy on the farm right now, I tend to fall behind with e-correspondence). Happy Thanksgiving!!! 36 ecolocalliving.com
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Eco-LOCAL People
Jonathan Greene - Local Living Guide Interview by David DeLozier
Photo supplied by Jonathan Greene
An interview with Jonathan Greene, founder and director of the Local Living Guide, a unique coupon book and directory of independent local businesses that are aiming to become ‘greener’ in their every day activities. With the last name of Greene, Jonathan takes his moniker seriously. A resident of Saratoga Springs, Jonathan is the founder and director of the Local Living Guide – a unique coupon book and directory of independent local businesses that are aiming to become ‘greener’ in their every day activities. The Local Living Guide just released its 3rd edition and features over $5,000 in savings for the shops, restaurants, entertainment and services throughout the Saratoga County. There are also tips and suggestions on how to engage in the local-living economy. Jonathan truly walks the walk of the sustainable lifestyle, helping others to find their inner ‘green.’ He’s also an active volunteer with the Sustainable Saratoga Task Force and the Saratoga Farmers Market. On a different note, quite literally, Jonathan is an accomplished player of the clarinet; his dexterity and fluency of this classic woodwind instrument is a sight to behold! Eco-LOCAL Living: What inspired you to start your business? Jonathan: The Local Living Guide came out of my interest in finding a practical, simple and win-win
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model for sustainable development in our community--something that everyone could embrace. We’ve taken the traditional coupon book model and made it vibrant, good for our community and valuable to all stakeholders. ELL: What do you like the best about your work? Jonathan: At its core, the book is about building community. For me personally, it has done just that. Over the last 3 years I have developed a tremendous connection to the people here. I have no doubt that this has been my greatest reward. It has enriched my life in so many ways. Also, I love the creative process. Every day I get to manifest my ideas and goals. ELL: Describe your path to green? How and when did you became eco-conscious? Jonathan: I was raised on these principles. My mother and father have always had a tremendous passion for environmental activism and social responsibilty. So I would say it is at my core to be eco-conscious. ELL: What are some of the things you do to help make the world a little bit greener?
Jonathan: I hope my efforts with the Local Living Guide help us towards this path. Also, as an organization, we are always seeking to reduce our environmental footprint. Last year, the Local Living Guide sponsored the Community CFL Challenge in partnership with Sustainable Saratoga, Allerdice Building Supply and the cool cities committee at Skidmore. With minimal volunteer hours our team helped reduce climate change emissions by almost 90,000 pounds and save local residents nearly $10,000. Unfortunately, the website is not completely up to date, but for anyone interested in learning more about this campaign and if you are interested in participating in the spring please let us know. www.locallivingguide.com/cfl ELL: Is there a particular environmental non-profit that the Local Living Guide supports? Jonathan: The Local Living Guide donates up to $3 of every book to the non-profit of your choice. To date, we have also donated almost $2,000 to supply local food pantries with fresh locally grown food in partnership with the Saratoga Economic Opportunity Council. ELL: What’s an eco-friendly gift you like to give? Jonathan: Last year I gave a cfl lightbulb to all of my friends.. Of course I would like to encourage people to gift the Local Living Guide. Once you buy a Guide, the Community Supporter Rewards Card (that comes with each copy of the book) gives you 20% off additional copies of the Guide for friends, co-workers, etc. The Local Living Guide will also help you save on your holiday shopping. ELL: Where are you from and how did you find yourself living in Saratoga Springs? Jonathan: I was raised on San Juan Island in Washington State until I was 14 and then moved to attend high school in Seattle. I went to Skidmore College in Saratoga Springs and was very active in advocacy and music. ELL: Are you still playing music? Jonathan: Yes, I am an active freelance musician in the capital region. I play regularly with Elizabeth Woodbury Kasius and Heard and we have just released a CD. I've performed with the Albany and Glens Falls Symyphonies and have had some youtube success. One of my videos on YouTube now has over 300,000 hits. You can find me by searching for my username "jonnybliss" on YouTube. For more information about the Local Living Guide, visit www.locallivingguide.com. You can reach Jonathan at (518) 879.6065, Jonathanjonathan@locallivingguide.com or facebook.com/jonathandgreene.
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